Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-06-10
THE oRNIrHoLoelcGL PUZZLE.
Death of a Thousand Dollar Bird-Start
LING. Cnnuersational Powers.

Death of a Thousand Dollar Bird-Starts
ling Conversational Powers.
Jack, the nondescript, one that has sorely
puzzled the greatest ornithologists of Amer
lea, and for which thu sum of 81 900 has fire.
quently been offered and refused, died on
Thursday at the residence of its owner, Capt.
Frederic Perkins, Brooklyn. He was re-
marllable linguist, and, although of Oriental
nativity, spoke English with great fuency.
A Christian Chinaman, one of thousands Of
people that visited the bird, said that he was
of a genus rare in the Celestial empire, but
that specimens had been infrequently seen
within about ten miles of Canton, and he at
tributed toit many of the characteristics of
the American starting. His breast and back
was of beautiful drab or dove color, the
wings and tail of rich velvety black tipped
with white, the head surmounted with tuft
of black hair like feathers; legs and bill yell
low; long, sharp talons, like those of a hawk,
and a small, vicious gray eye of peculiar
shape. He was the size of a kingfisher. Many
fancied that he was Pagoda mynah (Te-
menuchus pagodarum), but the best authori
.ieA reepnaiated the suggestion Capt PERKINS
received the following from Professor J. 8.
Holden, of the Central park geological col
lection, after forwarding a minute deserip-
ton of the bird and asking for its tribe:
DEAR SIR have looked over several works
that we have and find nothing concerning the
creature. Woods Natural History of Birds
thought would contain the most particular
count, but find that it only repeats what we all
know about mynahs. 1t says that the mynah is
thought to be equally intelligent with the gray
parrot, that is equally able to talk with any other
bird. don't know of work to recommend to
you. General works on birds are not common.
wish that cou1d direct Won further Inf 7 dOubt
any ones ability to find a book with reference
to tt1frreessssathiect matter of your inquiry.
Cinnamon believe tffa.ttbls because of the start
ling intelligence and apparent col ersaIonai
mot merely verbaD powers of the ord 1t
was possessed of evil spirits. His knowledge
of Chinese was unbounded. Among his mi
metic powers were accurate limitations of
coughing, sneezing. crying, laughing, sharp
ening of knife, drawing nails, grating nut
megs, saving wood, filing saw, barking of a
dog and other sounds, given with wonderful
precision. 1t actually conversed with Capt.
Perkins, and apparently was made aware Of
the approach of his master by instinct. So
soon as the captain came near his home the
bird would screech welcome of "Hello, Cap,
dinner is all ready!" or, "This way for Rock
away, Capt." He whistled an air like @
human being, and the house dog would re-
spond to his call. He understood everything
that was said to him. The captain in pleas
ant weather, would take Jack into the street
perched upon his shoulder, but his affection
for his master was SO strong and SO wonder
fully manifested that the latter had no fear
of his elopement. "Ah!" said the captain to
the writer, II almost feel as if I had lost a
child. Talk about his value-no one could
name his price to me!'-New York Times